Bartkira is a collaborative illustration project that invites illustrators to re-imagine the Akira manga by Ōtomo Katsuhiro with characters from The Simpsons. The Bartkira series is essentially fan art that blends two weird and wonderful worlds together.
The stories are set in the fictional town of Neo-Springfield, and I'm truly blown away by the talent and creativity displayed in each submission. Most importantly, all the submissions possess an unbridled enthusiasm and passion for the subject matter.
The project, which has been overseen by Ryan Humphrey in a blog format for the past year, has been released as a book that features some of the project's highlights. The first volume, which is bound in a jacket designed by Frans Boukas, will definitely become a collectors item for die-hard comic fans.
Mash-Up Comic Art
Bartkira is a Wonderful Combination of The Simpsons and Akira
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Illustration Projects - Exploring collaborative art projects that blend different artistic styles and worlds together, offering the potential for unique and unexpected combinations.
2. Fan Art Crossovers - Exploring the trend of fan artists merging characters and worlds from different popular media, creating exciting and imaginative combinations.
3. Blog-to-book Releases - Examining the growing trend of turning successful blog projects into physical books, providing an opportunity to reach a wider audience and create collectible items.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Illustration - Opportunity for artists and illustrators to collaborate and experiment with different art styles, attracting fans and collectors.
2. Comic and Manga - Potential for comic creators and manga artists to explore crossover possibilities, expanding their fan base and generating interest in new collaborations.
3. Publishing - Opportunity for publishers to tap into unique and niche art projects, transforming successful online ventures into physical products that appeal to collectors and enthusiasts.